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Wisconsin DNR reports 6 endangered wolves killed

Wisconsin's Deparment of Natural Resources reports that six endangered gray wolves were killed during last month's deer hunting season.

Adrian Wydeven runs the wolf management program for the Wisconsin DNR. He said officials found the wolves after their radio collars emitted a mortality signal and he suspects the number of wolf deaths may be even higher than six.

Wydeven said wolf killings occur every year.

"If we compare it to 2007 it would be an increase," Wydeven said. "We had only one detected, illegal kill on a wolf in 2007. But in 2006, we had nine wolves that we knew to have been illegally killed."

Wydeven describes these wolf killings as intentional and opportunistic.

"At the same time, too, we suspect of those that we are able to detect there are probably more that are shot that go undetected," he said.

Minnesota's DNR does not extensively monitor the wolf population, so officials can't say how many might have been killed in the state.

The Wisconsin DNR is asking anyone with information about a wolf's death to contact the department.